Structural span



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Meter GeaHigoerf, 1.

Oct. 25, 1932. M. G. HILPERT STRUCTURAL SPAN Filed Jan. 5, 1929 WITNESS E-s ,1 I Gwen mtg Get. 25, 1932. QH|LPERT 1,884,687

STRUCTURAL SPAN Filed Jan. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Miler GemHifaerZ',

Oct. 25, 1932. H|LPERT 1,884,687

STRUCTURAL SPAN Filed Jan. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Meter Geo.Hi lPerZ',

Oct. 25, 1932. H|LPERT 1,884,687

STRUCTURAL SPAN Filed Jan. 5, 1929 '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1'47; v v MeierGeaHiZfiefZ,

Oct. 25, 1932.

M. G. HILPERT STRUCTURAL SPAN Filed Jan. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwuemtoz JIeier GeaHi gireri,

dun/m Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES MEIER G. HILIPERT, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA STRUCTURAL SPAN Application filed January 5, 1929. Serial No. 330,672.

This invention relates to fabricated structural spans adapted particularly for use as a transfer table or turntable.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel fabricated construction possessing maximum strength and stability for carrying heavy rolling loads. In that connection the invention contemplates a structure which is adequately braced and designed 10. to meet the requirements incident to the handling of heavy rolling loads and which provides a construction that equalizes the total dead and live loads to the rails or circular rail.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the span that apart thereof will perform the functions of trunnions or bearings for the trucks thereby not only eliminating these elements but also doing away with much machining. Thus, according to the present invention the truck mounting for the span becomes a matter for the fabricating shop rather than the machine shop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a span of minimum floor depth which permits of locating the completed structure such as a transfer table or a turntable in a shallower pit than heretofore used thereby effecting considerable economy in excavation, pit Walls and the like. Furthermore, a construction which permits of utilizing a shallow pit has the advantage of being safer and ofenabling shop men to readily cross the pit, or transfer small quantities of material, as for example wheel barrow loads from one side of the yard to the other without the necessity of using the table as a bridge. Where a deep pit is used in the middle of a yard, and it becomes necessary to effect its crossing, the workmen must either go around the pit or use the transfer table as a crossing medium to avoid the hazard ofjumpi-ng from the high pit wall abutments and the difiiculty of transferring small loads as previously indi cated. a

A still further object of the invention is to provide a. structure adaptable either as a transfer table or turntable, or as a crane, and as a matter of fact, for all construction where minimum floor depth of the structure is necessary, that is, minimum depth between the top of the rails on which the structure is mounted and the top of the track or loading rails on the structure itself. Thus, this object of the invention provides a thoroughly prac- 5. tical and efficient so-called half-through construction where the rolling load passes over a very thin floor system carried between two main girders, as distinguished from a deck construction where the rolling load goes over the top of the main girders.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the present improvements embodied in a transfer table.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic end elevation 7 of the improved construction shown in Fig. 1.

Figures 2 and 2 are respectively side and end elevations of an old form of transfer table.

Figures 3 and 3 are respectively diagram- 30- matic side and end elevations of the improved construction when used as a turntable.

Figures 4 and P are respectively diagrammatic side and end elevations of an old form of turntable.

Figures 5 and 5 are respectively diagrammatic side and end elevations of another form of old turntable construction.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of one end of a transfer table embodying the present improvements.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 7 is a detail vertical sectional view of one of the main girders and a part of the suspended floor system, said section being taken on the line 7 a7a of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken on the line 7 b7b of Figure 7.

Figure 8 is a detailed view illustrating the mounting of the mechanism for operating the table.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail elevation of one of the trucks. V

Figure 11-.is atop plan view of one-half of a turntable embodying the present improvements. v, F S1m1lar reference characters" designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. V

For the purpose of contrasting .the novel construction of the present invention with prior structures of this type, it ispointed out that Figures 1, 1 and'3 diagrammatia cally illustrate'the applicants' invention, respectivelyas applied to a transfer table and a turntable.

- That is to say, Figs. l'and 1' illustrate the present improvements embodied in a' transfer table as contrasted with a transfer table heretofore generally used and diagrammatically illustrated'in Figs. '2 and 2 A mere casual inspection and. a comparison of.

the'old practice will show thecumbersome and expensive type of construction previously employed as against the simple, practical and economical arrangement of Figs. 1

and '1. v

For example,}from the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 1 it will be observed, that the supports for the transfer table, namely the table rails, are spaced inwardly from the pit abutments as much as possible, thus extreme outer end of the same will not tip up the entire table, rotating about the neartable-rail. Thisconstructio'n also permits of providing the sidesof the pit with steps extending the full length of the abutmentwalls as a matter of safety, and for the ready crossing of the pit.

rails to carry any length of span or amount of load on the table deck, the main girders of course beingmadestrong enough to carry the load.

On the other hand the prior type of transfer table shown in Figs. 2 and 2 require a large number of longitudinal foundations and table rails, thereby necessitating considerable foundation and track expense for each installation. This construction is designed on the basis of placing. equal loads on the Wheels, by having one wheel on each side of theload sothat each table section, viewed transversely of the rails, becomes a two:

Furthermore, it is to be observed, that the proposed construction requires only two table wieldlystructural features. For instance in I the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 4? the table places a part of its dead and track loads,

that is, live loads, on a center foundation and a center bearing, and the balance of the table and track loads on the equalizing trucks and thence to the circular rail and track foundation at the ends of the unit. In Figs. 5 and 5 the construction illustrated places all of its dead-and deck orlive loads on the center foundation by means of a center hearing or conical rollers or by a disk, and uses a circular track and end trucks only when the table is receiving'a rolling load, for example, a live load such as an engine from the abutments onto its deck track.

In the constructions shown in Figs. 4; and 4 and Figs. 5 and 5 the equalizing two wheel trucks are placed either under or through the loading girders. These trucks are expensive to make, diflicult to properly attach to the girders so that they will readily equalize the loads, and are troublesome to aline and tojkeep in alinement.

Accordingly, as will be observed from Figs. 1 and 1 and Figs. 3 and 3 the present novel construction essentially includes the main spans BB, and the cantilevers E, with the trucks T, located at the junction of the main span and cantilever sections and having the wheels W' which travel on the table'rails R in the pit P. The said truck units are fabricated in accordance with the details and the method set forth in my pending application, Serial No. 221,120, filed September 21, 1927, excepting that a wheeled truck is placed on each side of each girder. As set forth in that application, the wheeled fabricated trucks are fastened directly to the websof the main girders of the structure, and the same is true in the present instance, the girder web acting as the central-loadingdiaphragm of each two wheeled truck.

Therefore, the trucks in all cases equalize by virtue of the girder construction at the point of truck attachment. That is to say, one line of the girder G of the main span B.B, namely the bottom chord thereof, remains practically stationary as to the structure, and that portion of the girder above B and B, that is, the specially flanged web CJ and CJ "permitting of fiexure, allows the truck to easily equalize to the slight variations in the track of a well laid turntable or transfer table without rupturing either truck attachments or the materials of the main girder. This flexure is limited to the specially flanged web G-J and the overhang or cantilever section E of the girder. In other words, in both cases (Fig. 1 the transfer table and Fig. 3 the turntable) the main portion of the main girder BCCB, that is, the parts between the supports or rails, is rigid and not effected by the equalizing of the trucks except for the very slight fleXure of the outstanding legs of the bottom flange near the points B and B, w iereas the web portion B-A flexes from Zero at B to maximum toward A according to the inequalities of the track.

The main girders G at each side of the structure must be of considerable depth be cause of the length of the simple span B B, and in order to make a relatively shallow or thin floor F, the floor cross-beams F are permitted to project below the main girders since they present no great amount of obstruction to a depth of snow on the pit floor. .The stringers S however from floor beam to floor beam are kept flush with the bottom of the main girders and the rails R of the rolling load track can then be placed on beams S between the stringers S. In the illustration shown steel beams or ties S are placed between the stringers S and thus the tops of the rails R are made flush with the tops of the stringers S since the rails rest on top of the steel ties and floor beams F, hence both stringers S and floor beams F may be made deep and strong.

Referring further to the main spans constituted by the girders G it will be observed from Fig. 7 that the said girders consist of the relatively deep plate sections 1 having the top angles 2 whose depending flanges are secured to the plates L secured to the opposite sides of the web, and the bottom angles 3, which angles 2 and 3 have secured thereto I the top and bottom plates 4 and 5 respectively, thus forming the top and bottom chords of the girders. In that connection it is to be observed that the bottom chords of the girders extend throughout the length of the table, that is, from one abutment wall of the pit to the other while the top chords terminate at the end ofthe main depth of the web 1 to permit of providing the flexible ends 1 1 of the webs to which the true is T are attached. As shown in Fig. 7 the end of the upper chord of the girder G is connected by the angle member 1 with the bottom chord at the point 1 adjacent the supports, that is, trucks T, while the upper edge of the flexible '3 end of the web 1 1 has a plate 25 secured to each side thereof in such a way that this plated web and the cantilever section can freely flex transversely under truck movements. The plates K splice the Vertical flange plates L where they are cut to the continuation of the vertical flanges of the angle members 1?), as clearly shown in Figure 7.

At suitable intervals along the main plate or web 1 the girder is braced on opposite sides by the vertically arranged angle irons 6 and 7, the latter constituting a. point of attachment for the suspension brackets 8 which carry the floor beams F.

The said floor beams, as previously indicated, extend below the bottom chords of the main girders G, and as shown in Figs. 7 and 7 are also of built-up or fabricated formation and include the web plates 9 and the top and bottom angle members 10 and 11 which form the upper and lower chords thereof. These floors beams in turn support the longitudinal stringers which include the plates 18 and the top and bottom angle members 14 and 15 respectively, the said stringers being connected with the transverse floor beams by suitable angle elements 16 and 17.

The bottom chords of the stringers S formed by the angle members 15 are flush with the bottom chords 5 of the main girders G, while the top chord 14 of the stringers are substantially level with the tops of the rails R, which latter, as previously indicated, are carried upon the steel ties S;

These ties are connected to the stringers by angle brackets 18.

Itwill thus be apparent that the main floor structure F between the main girders G consists of the transversely disposed floor beams F carried by the suspension brackets 8 and the longitudinally disposed stringers S which in turn carry the transversely extendin g steel ties S, that are preferably units of I-beam cross section and have their upper chords flush with the tops of the floor beams F. In addition to these structural elements the said floor structure also includes a suit able wood covering or deck 19 to take care of derailments of rolling stock as well as the raised walkways 20 extending from the trucks T entirely across the length of the span as will be observed from Figs. 6, 7 and 9.

The bottom of the floor structure designated generally as F also includes the crossing tension or bracing members 21 which extend diagonally from one floor beam F to another in panels from end to end of the table, thereby securely bracing the entire structure against transverse or twisting strains.

Also where the cantilever sections E occur, additional bracing means is provided through the medium of the channel struts 22 which stay the bottom chords of the main girders at the junction of the truck and girder bottom chords, thus holding the bottom chords to line and likewise that portion of the truck attached thereto, but allowing the truck wheels to move up and down as necessary to always hear on the rails R as ordinarily laid on theirfoundations.

Referring to Figs. 1, 1 6 and 7 it is noted that the entire span is supported by four trucks of two wheels each, a truck being near, that is, a halfpanel back from each corner of'the span and that these halfpanel extensions to the main girders G constitute cantilever sections E. Thus the'girders G place the central span loads directly on the trucks through line CB otherwise designated by the braces 1, and the cantilever sections E are especially provided to support the end floor beam loads and at the same time provide a flexible top chord equidistant each side of the truck, that is, member CJ otherwise designated as plate 25.

structurally the cantileversE are extensions of girdersG as to the bottom or thrust chords 24 and as to web or shear plates 23 while the tie back'or tension top chord is made up of thin flexible plates 25 one on each side of the web. These thin plates attaching to a fixed point of girder G at G extend direct to the gusset 26 carrying one end of F. It is thus evident that a transverse line in the truck base and dividing thetruck midway between the wheels is also the center line of the bottom'of girder and of chords 2424 and is a fixed line as regards the span and hence all equalizing motions of the truck as the two wheels follow the rails take place substantially unresisted bythe tension member 25 Of cantilever E since the same has little or no strength transversely at the top thereof. Hence in Fig. 10 the line B being fixed the truck is at all times aligned and held against transverse thrusts or twists by the broad bottom truck plates 46 which are rigidly attached to the fixed bottom chord of the span; also the truck though firmly held to the line B may freely equalize by being allowed to tilt laterally of the bottom girder flange at A and therefore we have provided a span with integral but freely equalizing trucks. 7 p

The wheels W of the trucks T are intended to be driven from a suitable source of power located at the operators house H positioned near the center of the span and illustrated in Figs. 6, 8 and 9. Referring first to Fig. 6 it will be observed that the outer wheel W of v the truck T is connected with a shaft 27 extending parallel to the main girder G, which shaft as shown in Fig. 8 is connected by a suitable gear train 27 with an electric motor 28which may be controlled by the operator through the medium of a standard type conpulsion, as well as means for moving dead rolling stock.

In the example shown the motor 28 receives its power from the wire 33 by means of the trolley device 33 as shown in Fig. 9. In con- 'nection with this figure it is pointed out that the dotted line illustrates the so-called clearance diagram which is the limit of projection of any part of the structure to give safe clearance between the structure and all standard rolling stock.

Referring to Fig. 7 it will be noted that the stringers S and floor beams F support brackets or extensions of S toward the wall, allowing of placing one or more shallow steel ties S on the wall side of the last beam F, thereby providing of a reverse stepped constructionwhich in turn allows of a stepped back wall with risers and treads of usable dimensions.

Hence another distinctive feature of the present invention resides in the use of a structure which enables the building of a simple and practical form of pit P. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the side or abutment walls 34 of the pit maybe of the stepped formation indicated at 35 and 36 and also be provided with the drainage sump or channel 37 which receives drainage from the watershed 38 between the rails R and the abutments. Another water-shed 39 may be provided between the rails R toward a center sump or basin 40, thus providing simple and adequate drainage facilities for the pit. The stepped rim wall renders the pit spaces accessible and traversable.

Fig. 10 of the drawings illustrates more in detail the frame construction of the trucks T. As will be observed from this figure the web 1 of the main girder G is provided with the angle membe'rs'42 whose outstanding legs 43 connect with the vertical plates 44 provided with the central openings 45 for receiving the bearing or axle and wheel supporting units 46 (Fig. 9) in which the wheels W' are journaled. The top, sides and bottom of the plates 44 are suitably braced and reinforced through the use of exterior plates 46 and interior angle members 47.

In embodying the foregoing novel features of construction in a turntable as shown in Figs. 3, 3 and 11, the only essential change resides in the arrangement of the truck units T, Fig. 11. These truck units are of the type set forth above and in my pending application, and are of course arranged radially with reference to the pivot axis 48 at the center of the table. One of the wheels W of the truck units is provided with a suitable bevel gear 49 which inturn meshes with another bevel gear 50 carriedby a drive'shaft 51. This shaft includes a suitable bevel gear shaft reverse device 52 and the motor or other source of power drives the turntable circularly through the pinion of device 52, shaft 0 in one direction and O in the other.

Since as previously indicated the structural features and characteristics of the main span and the cantilever section of the turntable are the same, similar reference characters employed in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive will apply in Fig. 11. I11 connection with the radially mounted trucks T it will of course be understood that the wheels lV thereof travel upon the circular rails R While flanged wheels are shown it is not intended that flange friction be employed to keep the turntable turning centrally but that a collar 48 be fixed exactly central of span as a part of the bottom bracing of the span and that same register exactly with and fit over when the span is in place acentral pit pin 48 which pin will be mounted in the pit floor and preferably designed to take transverse thrusts only, since girders G carry all vertical loads to the end trucks. However, it is not intended to limit this invention to such centering pin construction since it is apparent that a double floor beam or other constructionjoining the girders G and G at midspan can be made to place part of the vertical loads on the usual type of turntable center bearing and the four trucks proportionately relieved of part of their vertical loads;

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the ap pended claims.

I claim 1. A movable structural span of the class described including, a main span comprising main girders extending the length of the span and including flexible cantilever sections, and

- wheeled trucks carried by the girders at the beginning of the said cantilever sections.

2. A movable structural span of the class described adapted to travel on rails and comprising, a structural load carrying span including girders having a rigid intermediate section and flexible end web portions, and wheeled trucks carried by said flexible end portions of the webs.

3. A movable structural span of the class described, including main girders having rigid sections centrally thereof and flexible cantilever sections at the ends, a relatively thin floor system carried between the girders and extending through the cantilever sections,

- and wheeled trucks mounted at the junction of said cantilever sections of the girders.

4. A movable structural span of the class described comprising the combination with a pair of supporting rails, of girders having centrally arranged panels provided with braced bottom chords, and end panelsalso provided with braced bottom chords andflexible top chords, and wheeled trucks mounted on said end panels of the girders.

5. A movable structural span of the class described, including opposite girders 'connected by a floor system, said girders including central panels having rigid top and bottom chord members and flexible end panels including an extension of said bottom chord members together withthe webs of the girders trucks carried by said flexible end panels,

and a cantilever section formed by the end panel between the supporting rails and the abutment walls of the pit.

7. A movable structural span of the class described, including in combination, girders including a central panel provided withrigid top and bottom chords and end panels omitting the rigid top chord, thereby to provide a flexible end portion at each end of the girders, and equalizing trucks carried by said flexible end. portions and mounted onsaid rails.

8. In a movable structural span ofthe class described, a pair of girders including vertical web portions, a bottom chord for said web portions extending throughout the length of the span, a top chord extending across the central portion of the span leaving the web portion of the girders without a top chordat the ends of the span, braces for connecting the 7 ends of the top chords with the bottom chords of the girders, and wheeled trucks carried by the webs of the girders between the ends of the latter and the said braces which connect the top chords with the bottom chords.

9. In a movable structural span of the class described, a pair of main girders including vertical web portions, bottom chords extending throughout the length of the webs, top chords terminating short of the ends of the girder thereby leaving a flexible end panel at each end of the web, wheeled trucks carried by the webs forming the end panels, rails for supporting the wheeled trucks, and a floor system carried by the main girders and in-' cluding transverse floor beams suspended from the girders and projecting below. the same, longitudinal stringers carried by the floor beams, transverse ties carried by the stringers, and rolling load rails mounted on said ties.

10. A movable structural span of the class described adapted to travel on rails and comprising a structural load carrying span ineluding girders having a rigid intermediate section,a centering device for supporting said section, flexible web portions at the end of said rigid sections, and trucks carriedby said flexible end portions of'the webs.

' 11. A turntable or transfer table structure adapted for. use in pits, comprising a turntable span having a reversely stepped forma- 7 tion at its ends, and complemental stepped portions formed on the walls of the pit. Y

12. A turntable or transfer table construction adapted for use in pits, comprising a movable spanelement having an inwardly stepped formation at its underside, and an inwardlystepped complemental formation at the inner sides of the pit.

13. A turntable or transfer table construction of the type used in pits comprising a span of minimum vertical depth'adapted to operate in a relatively shallow pit, said span and pit having complemental stepped formations arranged in clearingrelation. I r

14. Ina turntable ortransfer table construction, the combination with supporting rails, of a pair of girders connected throughout their; length by a relatively thin floor system and having their bottom chords constituting a'rigid lineof support throughout the V span, top chords for the girdersterminating short of the endsthereof, reinforcing 1nembers for connecting the'top and bottom chords,

.flexible end panels at the ends of the girders formed by the extension of the webs thereof beyond'the point of the termination of the top U chords, flat tension chords secured to the up per edges of the flexible'web portions, and

trucks carried by the said flexible end portions. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. I e MEIER GEO. I-IILPERT. 

